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Romance in the North Georgia mountains April 23, 2007

Posted by Gerry Baron in Hero Moments, Things to do.
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This weekend I whisked my wife away to a mountain cabin in Hiawassee Georgia that I found during one of my internet searches for getaway spots. 

Hickorynut Cove Entrance

It was awesome!  The hospitality was exceptional.  We met the owners and their son.  Everyone was very friendly.  It’s as if we were long lost friends that came to visit for the night.

Bear Den and creek  Creek next to Bear Den @ Hickorynut Cove

We stayed in Cabin 3 (aka Bear Den or the Wilderness Cabin).  The cabin is situated next to a creek which you can hear at night if you leave the bedroom window open. 

Bear Den Bedroom   Living Area 

It has 1 bedroom and a living area that has a sleeper sofa.  There is also a roll-away bed. 

Bear Den Kitchen

The cabin has a full kitchen furnished with everything you need. 

Bear Den Backporch  Bear Den Backyard

There is a porch in the back with a swing chair and 2 rocking chairs.  Needless to say we sat together in the swing chair slowly rocking, cuddling, and talking to each other.  It was nice.

The backyard has a fire pit, grill, and picnic table out in the back.  They even give you the wood to burn! 

Roasting Marshmallows at Cabin 3   Roasting Marshmallows at Bear Den

My wife decided to flashback to her Girl Scout days as she roasted marshmallows on a fire I built in the back.

Trout Fishing Lake @ Hickorynut Cove  Swing Chair on Trout Lake @ Hickorynut Cove  Trout Farm @ Hickorynut Cove

There is a stocked trout lake when you first enter the property.   The pond is brimming with trout.  We caught 4 of them for a total of about 7 pounds of trout (3 meals worth)!
 
There is another lake on the property, Swan Lake, where you can fish at no charge.  It also has a paddle boat you can use.  You can hike on the property as well.

It was one of the best weekends we ever had together.

You can check it out at http://www.hickorynutcove.com/. 

Hitting the Right Note April 22, 2007

Posted by Gerry Baron in Hero Moments, Sweet Nothings, Things to do.
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One day when my wife and I were both at church for meetings, I was inspired to leave her a little note.  I found a colorful napkin and wrote a short note – “To the most beautiful woman at VWC.  I love you.” 

Love Note on a Napkin

I put the note on the driver’s side seat of the car.

As soon as she got into the car, she saw the note and called me immediately.  She was ecstatic that I did such a simple thing to show my love for her.  When she got home, she told me how special it made her feel to see my note.

Our wives don’t need much from us.  A little bit of attention can go a long way.  Go ahead and hit the right note with your wife.

Top cities for baby boomer romance April 21, 2007

Posted by Gerry Baron in Date Night, Romance Leadership, Romantic Husband, Staying Married, Things to do, romance.
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A study by Bob Sperling’s “Sperling’s Best Places” tried to determine the cities where baby boomers are living life most romantically.  Using U.S. census data, the study selected the population aged 45 to 60 years in the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the United States.  It ranked these cities on factors such as marital status (including divorce rate); sales of jewelry, candy, and flowers; and the presence of romantic activities which signified a high degree of romantic participation for the target age group (e.g., ballroom dancing and fine dining options) to determine the most romantic cities. 

The 10 cities determined to be tops in romance were:

  1. Pittsburgh, PA
  2. Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT
  3. Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
  4. Providence, RI/Fall River-Warwick, MA
  5. Charlotte-Gastonia, NC/Rock Hill, SC
  6. Hartford, CT
  7. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
  8. Rochester, NY
  9. Dallas, TX
  10. Houston, TX  

Whether you are a baby boomer or not, how are you doing in romancing your wife?  When was the last time you bought her flowers when she did not expect it?  Have you responded to her plea to spend time alone with you? 

It’s not too late.  Check out some of our postings for ideas you can use immediately to spark the romance.

For those interested, here is how the other 40 cities studied fared.

11. Cincinnati, OH
12. Boston, MA
13. Honolulu, HI
14. Philadelphia, PA
15. Kansas City, MO
16. New York, NY
17. Nashville, TN
18. Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY
19. Orlando, FL
20. Atlanta, GA
21. Richmond-Petersburg, VA
22. Chicago, IL
23. Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
24. St. Louis, MO
25. Indianapolis, IN
26. Oklahoma City, OK
27. Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA
28. Norfolk-Virginia Beach, VA/Newport News, NC
29. Washington, DC
30. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA
31. San Antonio, TX
32. Austin-San Marcos, TX
33. Jacksonville, FL
34. Cleveland-Lorain-Elyria, OH
35. Louisville, KY
36. Birmingham, AL
37. San Francisco, CA
38. Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
39. Columbus, OH
40. Baltimore, MD
41. Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
42. Denver, CO
43. Detroit, MI
44. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
45. San Diego, CA
46. Tucson, AZ
47. Las Vegas, NV
48. Sacramento, CA
49. Miami, FL
50. Memphis, TN

3 Keys to Romance April 20, 2007

Posted by Gerry Baron in Appreciation, Romance Leadership, Romantic Husband, Staying Married.
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I came across an article “Discover Ways to Enhance the Romance in Your Relationship” by Dr. Bob Berkowitz on the Cialis site.  Dr. Berkowitz is the best-selling author of “What Men Won’t Tell You, But Women Need to Know.”  In the article, he gives the following 3 pointers for fanning the flames of romance:

Couple Time (Just the Two of You) Will Improve Relationships
It’s important to have a date night or time you can spend alone with each other because your relationship should be the most important thing in your lives.

Find Ways to Keep Your Intimate Connection Strong as Your Relationship Matures
Too often, we become intimate enemies. Your partner needs to hear about what he or she is doing well.

Relationships Require Maintenance
Sit down with your partner on a regular basis and discuss what’s working well in the relationship and what needs some improvement.

I agree with Dr. Berkowitz. 

WHen I got married I wanted to believe that since I had won my wife’s heart, I would not have to work so hard at keeping it.  I was so creative during the dating process.  Leaving little love notes under her windshield wiper, drawing her pictures of roses, writing poems, and talking with her until the early morning hours were commonplace.

As soon as the last bit of rice hit me in the face on the way to the limo, those creative juices must have gotten sucked right out of me.  Writer’s block and narcolepsy took over. 

The steps Dr. Berkowitz prescribes were part of my turning this around.  I had to be intentional in dating my wife again.  I had to look at her through a different lens – one that focused on the great things about her.  I had to be consistent in maintaining the romance.  That’s what led me to start brainstorming and trying different ideas for romancing her, and eventually the creation of By Husbands For Husbands.

Regardless of the level of romance that exists in your marriage today, I encourage you to take the steps that Dr. Berkowitz outlines and experience an improved relationship.

One Foot Out the Door… April 19, 2007

Posted by Steve Worthy in Marriage, Staying Married.
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I came across this article yesterday and thought it was great. Because, it speaks to a real life issue that some husbands and wives face. However, the issue speaks to a much broader issue in our society. Please read the article now.

His wife thinks he’s cheating, but he’s faithful

The broader picture is our idea that we can “cut and run”, when things get too much to bear. Now, I do not have it all together, I have been married for eight years and I too had the fleeing mentality early in our marriage. Why? This mentality came from my dating life. Where, if the relationship wasn’t working out, that’s ok I’m outta here and onto the next girlfriend.

However, in marriage the emotionally cost and connection is more significant than the dating scene. Why does this man – in the article – have one foot out the door? He can’t take it anymore? His wife isn’t behaving the way he wants her too.

I don’t know, what do you think?

Have we as a society given up on marriage? Have we reduced marriage to the major league sports athlete free agency market – If I don’t like the team – Trade Me? When should a husband or wife leave a marriage? Should a wife or husband every leave the marriage – divorce?

What do you think?

How do I become More Romantic? – #4 Make Meaning April 18, 2007

Posted by Steve Worthy in Husbands are doing, Marriage, Romance Leadership, Staying Married.
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On Monday April 16, we were all reminded about how precious life is and how it can be taken away without warning. The brutal slaying of 33 people on the campus of Virginia Tech is grave reminder that we should make everyday count. That we should never let a day go by without telling and showing our family and friends that we love them. Each person and each day is precious to God and it should be used to make meaning and to impact those around you. I believe one of the ultimate reason God created mankind is to make the world around us a much better place before we leave it.

How do you make meaning?

    It’s the little things that matter

When I stop working on the computer and answer a question my daughter has it makes her feel important. When I do the dishes after my wife cooks an amazing meal, she feels appreciated. When I pray with my daughter’s at night before they go to bed, they feel protected. When I go out on a Sunday evening and fill my wife’s car up with gas for the week, she feels special. When I call a friend I haven’t spoken to in while and just listen to him bear his soul, he feels like someone cares. When I get up early on the weekend and make the girls breakfast while my wife sleeps in, she feels special (and rested).

So my question to you is – When I …? You fill in the blank

    Focus on what’s important

As a business owner, professor, husbands and father, I truly understand what it means to be busy. My life and yours are jam-packed with “good” things to do that on the outside don’t appear to take from or hinder our relationship. Beside, Men are Multi-taskers. I know I can do several projects at once. The pressing question is which one of those project suffers in the end. Now projects are projects, we can work on those anytime and increase the quality as time goes on and even hand them off to someone else. But what about those “other” things you can’t pass off, that are important; like your wife and kids.

What’s important to you: Career, Family, Ministry, the Almighty Dollar, friends, being liked, being appreciated, being accepted, and being loved?

In the area of romance, making meaning seems aloft and we (husbands) have to give her the moon, when all she wants is your time and attention. Your wife wants to feel special and not like something to be checked off of your to do list. Guys, we must realize that our relationship with our wife is the most important human relationship you will ever have. A solid marriage and romantic life is good example for your kids to follow. Don’t have kids. Well what about that younger couple you know, they need a good example to follow as well. Just married. Perfect, you can learn from our mistakes and be a “Rock Star” in your wife’s eyes.

What’s important to you?

What are the little things you do to make her feel special?

We want to hear from you, don’t be shy? Go ahead you’re a Hero in the Making.

We are “On the Air” April 17, 2007

Posted by Gerry Baron in About Us.
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Talk Show Button

In our continuing effort to create an environment in which we can help each other improve the ways in which we romance our wives, we are launching a radio talk show.

Every Tuesday at 7:00 PM, Steve and I will be sharing our views on the topic of husbands and romance .  We want to hear from you.  Call us to tell us what’s working for you.  Share your Hero Moments with us.  Ask us questions.  Challenge us. 

Get involved with the show in one or more of the following ways…

  1. Listen LIVE @ http://www.blogtalkradio.com/byhusbandsforhusbands
  2. Call in during the show to 718-508-9573
  3. IM questions and comments to AIM Screen Name BH4H

Join our movement to improve marriages.